Salaries Frozen For Some Oak Creek Elected Officials

Salaries for the Oak Creek city clerk and treasurer will be frozen for the next three years, and the part-time municipal judge for four years, following Common Council votes Tuesday.

The clerk and treasurer will each be paid $71,400 annually from May 1, 2012 through April 30, 2015. However, the council also approved a new $150 per month car allowance, which aldermen said had the effect of a raise.

City officials had proposed a 2 percent annual salary increase but aldermen said the clerk and treasurer salaries should be frozen like all other city employees. Even if it meant for three straight years - the council will not have a chance to revisit those salaries because of a new state law that requires elected officials' compensation to be set for their entire term.

The municipal , meanwhile, will be paid $16,323 each year beginning May 1, 2012 through April 30, 2016.

Two aldermen - Michael Toman and Tom Michalski - voted against the salary freeze, saying the city's wage freeze was unlikely to continue for four years and that the judge should get a raise like others probably will.

All three positions will be on the April 2012 election ballot. The municipal judge and treasurer positions are currently held by Alice Rudebusch and Barbara Guckenberger, respectively.

The clerk position is open following the .

Candidates can begin circulating nomination papers Dec. 1.